The 10 Best PS5 Strategy Games

The strategy game genre has become a bit stodgy in recent years. Most games are stripped-down versions of classics that you can play on your phone.

What about the console owners? That market may have shrunk, but the plus side is, only the cream of the crop really rises to the top.

Well if you’ve been itching for a strategy game, but you are afraid you’ll waste your hard-earned dollar on a dud, we’ve got the best ones here for you to check out.

10. Invisible, Inc. Console Edition

Invisible, Inc. Console Edition is a game all about stealth and espionage. It’s a cyberpunk dystopia, and the world’s governments have been overthrown by corporations.

Invisible is your employer, but the business has gone sideways, losing most of its agents and assets after being compromised.

As one of the sole survivors, it’s your job to get your team, your intel, and your powerful AI together for one last job.

It’s either save Invisible Inc. or wait for a corporate extermination squad. The gameplay is heavily inspired by the XCOM series and features turn-based combat centered around infiltration, stealth, and hacking.

As you progress you unlock more operators with different skill sets, and unlock permanent bonuses for future playthroughs.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Phantom Doctrine
  
• Into the Breach
  
• INVISIBLE

9. Wargroove

Wargroove is a turn-based strategy game set in a fantasy setting. You can choose between 15 commanders and play their single-player campaigns.

You can also join in online PvP matches or co-op campaigns. The most notable feature though is the campaign editor.

With the editor, you can create your own maps, link multiple missions from other campaigns together and set missions to unlock after meeting certain conditions.

There’s a wealth of game here and the gameplay itself is easy to get into.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Advanced Wars
  
• War Theatre
  
• Chroma Squad

8. Valkyria Chronicles 4

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is the continuation of the Second Europa war. The gameplay is similar to the previous installments with a few new additions.

There is an all-new class called Grenadier. They can fire mortars at enemies, and if there are allies providing them battlefield information they can fire without being seen.

There is also a mechanic call brave that kicks in when one of your soldiers is about to die. It can pull that unit out of a tough spot and grant a full turn with invincibility, or buff a nearby unit.

The combat is just as deep and fun as the previous entries, the story is just as strong, and it will keep you engaged and aching to play when you’re away from your controller.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengence
  
• Space Hulk
  
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms 13

7. SteamWorld Heist

SteamWorld Heist is a 2D, side-scrolling turn-based strategy game set in the SteamWorld universe.

Piper Faraday is a smuggler and occasional pirate who scoops up some robots to go looting in outer space.

The ships you encounter are procedurally generated which keeps booty looting interesting. As to the booty, there are about 100 weapons and hats to collect and buy throughout.

With a New Game+ on top of all that, you have a fun and funny strategy game that will keep you occupied for a long time.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Armello
  
• Grand Kingdom
  
• Age of Wonders: Planetfall

6. XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed XCOM Enemy Unknown. The game is set 20 years after the first game and things didn’t end well for XCOM.

The commander is locked away in a tube by the new alien overlords, moreover, the might of XCOM has been scattered to the winds leaving only a small insurgent force to combat the extraterrestrial menace.

There are new additions to the gameplay in this iteration. Since you are taking the fight to the aliens, most maps start with a stealth mechanic, and savvy players will be able to take advantage of this and set up ambushes to get the most out of your limited time.

There are new spins on the classes for your troops as well. The base building mechanic is back, but instead of an underground bunker, you’re refurbishing a flying fortress.

There’s plenty of fun to be had for newbies and veterans alike, additionally, there’s an expansion for the game available in case you tear through the base game.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy
  
• Grand Kingdom
  
• Wasteland 2 

5. Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark

Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark is a tactical RPG set in a world ruled over actively by the Gods. Their agents, responsible for maintaining order are called Arbiters.

The Arbiters’ job is to take out monsters and bandits and otherwise maintain the status quo. This works fine until an Arbiter uncovers internal corruption and has to do something about it before it upsets the very balance of the world.

The gameplay itself is heavily inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics. You have a massive amount of control over the customization of your characters and have the ability to mix and match skills from the classes you choose.

There are a plethora of possible builds for your team and moreover hours and hours of entertainment to be had experimenting with them.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Final Fantasy Tactics
  
• The Banner Saga
  
• Disgaea Complete

4. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

It is the Edo period, and you are a loyal vassal of the current Shogun, a powerful warlord who has managed to unify Japan, however, there is a mysterious man threatening to destroy Japan’s tenuous peace.

The Shogun chooses you and a team of four to find out who the conspirators are, and bring them to justice.

This game is focused on team-based stealth missions where you have to infiltrate, gather reconnaissance and potentially capture enemies.

With an intriguing story and tense gameplay, you can’t go wrong spending a few weeks or even months perfecting your strategies in Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Ronin
  
• Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
  
• Fear Effect Sedna

3. Valkyria Chronicles Remastered

The setting for the game is basically an anime version of Europe in the early days of World War 2.

Your protagonists live in Gallia, a small independent nation that isn’t a part of the Atlantic Federation, or The Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance.

Tensions between the superpowers heat up due to the Empire’s shortage of a multipurpose mineral called Ragnite.

With stunning victories for the Empire setting the Federation on its heels, the Empire sets its sights on Gallia for invasion, because the country is sitting on a massive untapped Ragnite deposit.

Your characters join the Gallian Militia to try and halt the Empire’s advance and save their country.

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered is truly a work of art, not only because of its visual presentation but for its innovative combat system.

The game uses what it calls the BLiTZ system, which is a hybrid of traditional turn-based strategy, and when you are moving units you go into a 3rd person perspective to see the action up close.

The initial release of the game for the PS3 was a critical success because of that innovation and the stylized colored pencil aesthetic that the game has kept throughout its sequels.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Super Robot Wars V
  
• Skulls of the Shogun
  
• Children of Zodiarcs

2. Lara Croft GO

This game is unique, even for a strategy game. It’s a hybrid of a board game, strategy game, and puzzle game.

While it may sound like a juggling act that will end in disaster, Lara Croft GO rides that line expertly. The stages are made up of interconnected nodes and lines.

Lara Croft takes turns with the stage itself. On your turn, you move Lara to a node which will either net you a one-use item, get you to a switch to open up your path through the stage, or just take you closer to the goal.

Once Lara’s turn is over, it’s the stages turn. Obstacles and enemies will take their turns to move to their own nodes.

As the game progresses, new mechanics are introduced and the puzzles increase in complexity. With 5 chapters and 40 stages, there’s a ton of fun to be had here.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Hitman GO
  
• Super Dungeon Tactics
  
• Nova-111

1. Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is a Roguelike card-based strategy game where you choose a character and a randomly generated deck of cards containing attack, defense, and special ability cards.

The character you choose determines what kind of ability cards you get and what your starting relic is. Using your deck you must ascend the tower.

If you are successful at beating your opponent and move to the next floor you nab money and loot that can either add cards to your deck, give you a special buff that will last for your entire play session.

Since this is a Roguelike, if you fail to defeat your opponent you have to start over again from the bottom of the tower.

Each playthrough will still net you points toward unlocking new cards, moreover, you can use these points to unlock new characters, and new relics to be used on subsequent playthroughs.

The challenge lies in coming up with an effective strategy on the fly while trying to synergize your relics, buffs and incorporate the new cards you win to achieve victory.

It’s a compelling and engaging strategy game that requires meta-level thinking the entire time. It’s complex, and addictive to play and you’ll end up marathoning it without even realizing it.

You’ll probably like this game if you like:

• Loot Rascals
  
• Runestone Keeper
  
• Thea: The Awakening

If you like this list, check out 25 Best PS4 Strategy Games by ProFanboy.